“The act of launching causes contact to Michalek’s head,” said Shanahan. “Often on big hits or collisions a player’s feet will come off the ice slightly as a result of the impact.

“This, however, is not one of those occasions.”

With all due respect to Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond, JF Jacques, Tom Sestito and Andre Deveaux, Ovechkin is the first true “superstar” player to face supplementary discipline from Shanahan — though it’s not Ovi’s first time being called to the disciplinary carpet. He was dinged two games in Mar. 2010 for boarding Chicago’s Brian Campbell, a punishment levied by former NHL head of discipline Colin Campbell.

Earlier this year it was thought Ovechkin could’ve received suspension for spearing Ottawa’s Chris Neil, but Shanahan elected not to punish the offense.

Ovechkin will forfeit $154,677.75 to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund and miss Washington’s game on Tuesday against Boston, Jan. 31 against Tampa Bay and Feb. 1 against Florida.

Huh. Good response by the League. Shows status doesn’t buy you immunity to the rules. Michalek probably should have gotten a fine, though, just to make the point that it was a bad hit, but then, he did admit it, so that might have mitigated.

It’s not that Ovi didn’t deserve his suspension, he did (although I thought it might be 2 games, but I’ll chalk the third game up to him being a repeat offender). It’s that Michalek didn’t even get fined and he admits he hit him with an elbow. That’s my issue.

maxtalbot25 - Jan 23, 2012 at 9:20 PM

Michalek’s hearing is separate and scheduled for later in the day….he still isn’t free from possible discipline!!!

Yeah, it’s the same favoritism that assures that the Penguins get every call in every game, every high draft pick, all of the revenue from the league, and win Stanley Cup every year.

Seriously, seeing favoritism in these issues is silly. This isn’t the first time Ovechkin has delivered a questionable hit. Michalek doesn’t have the same history, but if he does it again, he’ll certainly find himself getting some punishment.

Good to see the shanahammer holds no bias. This guy is suppose to be a role model for kids and he is launching himself at other players. Agreed Michalek deserved to be fined but Ovi has a long track record with the league office and shanny nailed it

hanktheking - Jan 23, 2012 at 7:35 PM

I sincerely hope there are no kids modeling themselves after Ovechkin.

odj810 - Jan 23, 2012 at 7:42 PM

good call Ovi should get suspended for the hit. so should michaelek though. not 3 games but his hit was a hit to the head.

I’m sure there’s plenty of selfish, self-centered MVP-over-Stanley-cup Russian born kids who are lacing up their skates in the hopes of modeling their game to be just like Ovi and semin…cuz you know they put banners up for those art Ross trophys

hailll - Jan 23, 2012 at 8:01 PM

You would think a country like America jr. would be more appreciative of someone who plays hard and leaves it all on the ice. But I guess you would have to understand what hard work is first. Ovie should skip the game and let the elitist British colony complain they wasted their sterling to the Queen.

Ovechkin deserves to be suspended.That idiot gets away with more crap than anyone not named Subban. The one that sticks out the most was in the playoffs in ’09 when he purposely stuck his knee out on Gonchar. He is crap.